System and method for providing information to and/or obtaining information from a component of an electrical distribution system

ABSTRACT

An electrical distribution system wherein information is communicated to and/or from an electrical component of the electrical distribution system using near-field communications. The information may be communicated to and/or from the electrical component using an electronic device such as a dedicated near-field device, a smartphone or a configuration card device. Also, a method of obtaining information from an electrical component of an electrical distribution system, such as a circuit interrupter, includes generating a machine readable element that comprises first information in encoded form, the first information relating to the operation and/or status of the circuit interrupter, displaying the machine readable element on the circuit interrupter, capturing an image of the machine readable element, obtaining the first information based on the image, and displaying second information based on the obtained first information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§120 from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/719,477, filed Dec. 19,2012, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AND/OROBTAINING INFORMATION FROM A COMPONENT OF AN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEM”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This invention pertains generally to electrical distribution systemsthat include components such as, without limitation, circuitinterrupters and, more particularly, to systems and methods forproviding information, such as, without limitation, configurationinformation, to components (such as a circuit breaker) of an electricaldistribution system and/or for obtaining information, such as, withoutlimitation, configuration information and/or diagnostic information,from components (such as a circuit breaker) of an electricaldistribution system.

2. Background Information

Electrical switching apparatus for electrical distribution systems, suchas circuit interrupters and, in particular, circuit breakers of themolded case variety, are well known in the art. See, for example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,341,191.

Circuit breakers are used to protect electrical circuitry from damagedue to an overcurrent condition, such as an overload condition or arelatively high level short circuit or fault condition. Molded casecircuit breakers typically include separable contacts which may beoperated either manually by way of a handle disposed on the outside ofthe case or automatically in response to an overcurrent condition.Typically, such circuit breakers include: (i) an operating mechanismwhich is designed to rapidly open and close the separable contacts, and(ii) a trip unit which senses overcurrent conditions in an automaticmode of operation. Upon sensing an overcurrent condition, the trip unittrips the operating mechanism to a trip state, which moves the separablecontacts to their open position.

Industrial circuit breakers often use a circuit breaker frame whichhouses a trip unit. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,760; and6,144,271. The trip unit may be modular and may be replaced in order toalter the electrical properties of the circuit breaker.

It is well known to employ trip units which utilize a microprocessor todetect various types of overcurrent trip conditions and to providevarious protection functions, such as, for example, a long delay trip, ashort delay trip, an instantaneous trip, and/or a ground fault trip. Thelong delay trip function protects the load served by the protectedelectrical system from overloads and/or overcurrents. The short delaytrip function can be used to coordinate tripping of downstream circuitbreakers in a hierarchy of circuit breakers. The instantaneous tripfunction protects the electrical conductors to which the circuit breakeris connected from damaging overcurrent conditions, such as shortcircuits. As implied, the ground fault trip function protects theelectrical system from faults to ground.

Each circuit breaker is designed for a specific maximum continuouscurrent. This current rating may be set by a suitable selectionmechanism, such as by a rotary switch or by selection of a resistor(e.g., a “rating plug”) which converts a current to a voltage for use bythe trip unit. In some instances, a single circuit breaker frame may beeasily adapted for installations which call for a range of maximumcontinuous currents, up to the design limits of the frame, through useof the selection mechanism by which the current rating of the device canbe established. Typically, the pick-up currents for the variousprotection functions have been selectable multiples or fractions of thiscurrent rating. Thus, instantaneous protection trips the device any timethe current reaches a selected multiple of the rated current, such as,for example, ten times the rated current. Pick-up for short delayprotection is a multiple of the rated current, while pick-up current forlong delay protection may be a fraction of the rated current. Typically,the short delay trip is only generated when the short delay pick-upcurrent is exceeded for a short delay time interval, although, in someapplications, an inverse time function is also used for short delayprotection.

Currently, many electronic trip units use adjustable (e.g., withoutlimitation, rotary) switches to vary functional trip settings, such as,for example and without limitation, long delay pickup (Ir), long delaytime (LDT), short delay pickup (SDPU), ground fault pickup (GFPU), andshort delay time and ground fault time (SDT/GFT). The adjustableswitches are typically labeled on a per unit basis and are common to allcurrent sensor (e.g., current transformer) types.

There is room for improvement in electrical distribution systems thatinclude components such as, without limitation, circuit interrupters,and, in particular, in the area of providing information to and/orobtaining information from components of an electrical distributionsystem such as a circuit breaker.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an electrical distribution system is provided thatincludes an electrical component having a first near-fieldcommunications chip coupled to a first near-field communicationscoupling element, and an electronic device having a second near-fieldcommunications chip coupled to a second near-field communicationscoupling element, wherein the electronic device is structured totransmit first information to the first near-field communications chipand/or receive second information from the first near-fieldcommunications chip over a near-field communications interfaceestablished between the first near-field communications coupling elementand the second near-field communications coupling element.

In another embodiment, a method of transferring information in anelectrical distribution system having an electrical component having afirst near-field communications chip coupled to a first near-fieldcommunications coupling element and an electronic device having a secondnear-field communications chip coupled to a second near-fieldcommunications coupling element is provided. The method includesestablishing a near-field communications interface between the firstnear-field communications coupling element and the second near-fieldcommunications coupling element, and performing at least one of: (i)transmitting first information to the first near-field communicationschip over the near-field communications interface, and (ii) receivingsecond information from the first near-field communications chip overthe near-field communications interface.

In yet another embodiment, a method of configuring an electricalcomponent having a first near-field communications chip coupled to afirst near-field communications coupling element includes providing aconfiguration card device (64) having a second near-field communicationschip coupled to a second near-field communications coupling element, theconfiguration card device storing configuration information for theelectrical component, establishing a near-field communications interfacebetween the first near-field communications coupling element and thesecond near-field communications coupling element, transmitting theconfiguration information from the configuration card device to thefirst near-field communications chip over the near-field communicationsinterface, and configuring the electrical component based on theconfiguration information.

In still another embodiment, a circuit interrupter system is providedthat includes a circuit interrupter, the circuit interrupter having afirst processor apparatus and a first display, the first processorapparatus being structured to: (i) generate a machine readable elementthat comprises first information in encoded form, the first informationrelating to the operation and/or status of the circuit interrupter, and(ii) cause the machine readable element to be displayed on the firstdisplay, and a portable computing device having a second processorapparatus, a second display, and an image capture device, the secondprocessor apparatus being structured to: (i) cause the image capturedevice to capture an image of the machine readable element, (ii) obtainthe first information based on the image, and (iii) cause secondinformation to be displayed on the second display based on the obtainedfirst information.

In yet another embodiment, a method of obtaining information from anelectrical component of an electrical distribution system, such as acircuit interrupter, includes generating a machine readable element thatcomprises first information in encoded form, the first informationrelating to the operation and/or status of the circuit interrupter,displaying the machine readable element on the circuit interrupter,capturing an image of the machine readable element, obtaining the firstinformation based on the image, and displaying second information basedon the obtained first information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components of anelectronic trip unit forming part of a circuit interrupter of the systemof FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components of anNFC communications device forming part of the system of FIG. 2 accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system accordingto an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components of anNFC metering module forming part of the system of FIG. 4 according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system accordingto another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components of aconfiguration card device forming part of the system of FIG. 6 accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components of aconfiguration card device forming part of the system of FIG. 6 accordingto another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system accordingto another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a two-dimensional (2D) barcodedisplay on a display device of a circuit interrupter of the system ofFIG. 9 according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a portable computing device formingpart of the system of FIG. 9 according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 12-16B are top plan views of the portable computing device ofFIGS. 10 and 11 showing a number of different screens thereof accordingto various exemplary embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right,front, back, top, bottom and derivatives thereof, relate to theorientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limitingupon the claims unless expressly recited therein.

As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “coupled”together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directlyor joined through one or more intermediate parts.

As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integergreater than one (i.e., a plurality).

As used herein, “near-field communications” or “NFC” shall mean atechnique wherein two devices are coupled to one another and wirelesslytransfer power and/or information within the near-field over a shortdistance (such as, without limitation, about four cm) using coupledinductive circuits. Near-field communications are governed by variousstandards, such as, without limitation, ISO/IEC 18092, ECMA-340, ISO/IEC21481, and ECMA-352.

As used herein, the term “near-field” shall mean a region that is inproximity to an electromagnetic radiating structure, such as an antennaor coil, where the electric and magnetic fields do not have a plane-wavecharacteristic, but instead vary greatly from one point to another.Furthermore, the near-field can be subdivided into two regions which arecommonly known as the reactive near-field and the radiating near-field.The reactive near-field is closest to the radiating structure andcontains almost all of the stored energy, whereas the radiatingnear-field is where the radiation field is dominant over the reactivefield but does not possess plane-wave characteristics and is complicatedin structure. This is in contrast to the far-field, which is generallydefined as the region where the electromagnetic field has a plane-wavecharacteristic, i.e., it has a uniform distribution of the electric andmagnetic field strength in planes transverse to the direction ofpropagation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system 2according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Circuitinterrupter system 2 includes a configurable circuit interrupter 4 (inthe illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, configurable circuitinterrupter 4 is a molded case circuit breaker) having an operatingmechanism 6 configured to rapidly open and close the separable contactsof circuit interrupter 4 and an electronic trip unit 8 operativelycoupled to operating mechanism 6 which, in an automatic mode ofoperation, is structured to sense overcurrent conditions and in responsethereto move operating mechanism 6 to a state wherein the separablecontacts of circuit interrupter 4 are open. As seen in FIG. 1, in theillustrated embodiment, electronic trip unit 8 includes a number ofadjustable switches 10 for varying the functional trip settings (suchas, for example and without limitation, long delay pickup (Ir), longdelay time (LDT), short delay pickup (SDPU), ground fault pickup (GFPU),and short delay time and ground fault time (SDT/GFT)) of electronic tripunit 8. Electronic trip unit 8 also includes a Serial Port Interface(SPI) 12 and a trip unit status indicator 14 (in the form of an LED).

In addition, circuit interrupter system 2 includes a handheld NFCcommunications device 16 that is structured to communicate withelectronic trip unit 8 using near-field communications (NFC) asdescribed in more detail herein. In this configuration, an operator isthus able to: (i) establish functional trip settings for electronic tripunit 8 by inputting the desired settings into a user interface providedon NFC communications device 16 (as an alternative to or replacement ofmanual switches) and transmitting the settings to electronic trip unit 8over an NFC interface established between NFC communications device 16and electronic trip unit 8 as described in greater detail elsewhereherein, and (ii) read the current functional trip settings forelectronic trip unit 8 and/or other information from electronic tripunit 8 (e.g., stored information relating to the operation and/or statusof circuit interrupter 4, such as cause of trip, load, voltage andharmonics information described elsewhere herein) using NFCcommunications device 16 and the NFC interface between NFCcommunications device 16 and electronic trip unit 8 as described ingreater detail elsewhere herein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components ofelectronic trip unit 8 according to the exemplary embodiment. As seen inFIG. 2, electronic trip unit 8 includes a microprocessor (μP) 18 whichcontrols the operation of electronic trip unit 8. Alternatively,microprocessor 18 may be another type of processing or control unit,such as, without limitation, a microcontroller or some other suitableprocessing device. Electronic trip unit 8 further includes ananalog-to-digital converter (ADC) 20, a random access memory (RAM) 22and an EEPROM 24, each of which is coupled to microprocessor 18. ADC 18is structured to receive signals, such as a number of current signals(indicating the current of each phase of the system to which circuitinterrupter 4 is connected), that are sensed by sensors (not shown;e.g., a number of current transformers or Rogowski coils) forming partof circuit interrupter 4 and convert those signals to digital data thatis appropriate for microprocessor 18. As will be appreciated, that datamay be stored in RAM 22 and/or used by the trip unit program implementedin microprocessor 18 in determining whether and when to issue a tripsignal for tripping operating mechanism 6. In addition, in the exemplaryembodiment, EEPROM 24 stores (in nonvolatile memory) the functional tripsettings (such as, for example and without limitation, long delay pickup(Ir), long delay time (LDT), short delay pickup (SDPU), ground faultpickup (GFPU), and short delay time and ground fault time (SDT/GFT)) ofelectronic trip unit 8, which are read into microprocessor 18 as neededby the trip unit program. Electronic trip unit 8 also includes a serialport interface (SPI) 12 coupled to a communication interface 26, whichin turn is operatively coupled to microprocessor 18 to allow for serialcommunication with microprocessor 18.

Electronic trip unit 8 further includes an NFC transceiver chip 28coupled to an NFC coupling element 30, such as an antenna or coil. NFCtransceiver chip 28 is an integrated circuit chip that is configured toconduct near-field communications as described elsewhere herein. In theexemplary embodiment, NFC transceiver chip 28 includes a wirelesscontroller portion and a non-volatile memory portion (e.g., withoutlimitation, FRAM), and may be, for example and without limitation, theTRF7970a transceiver chip sold by Texas Instruments Incorporated or theWM710xx transceiver chip sold by Ramtron International Corporation. Asdescribed elsewhere herein, NFC transceiver chip 28 coupled to NFCcoupling element 30 allows electronic trip unit 8 to engage innear-field communications with NFC communications device 16.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components of NFCcommunications device 16 according to the exemplary embodiment. NFCcommunications device 16 may be a device dedicated to the function ofengaging in near-field communications with electronic trip unit 8 asdescribed herein, or, alternatively, may be an electronic device, suchas smartphone, having more general purpose capabilities (e.g., phone orInternet browsing functionality) that also has near-field communicationscapabilities that are specifically adapted (e.g., through software) forengaging in near-field communications with electronic trip unit 8 asdescribed herein.

As seen in FIG. 3, NFC communications device 16 includes an inputapparatus 32 (e.g., without limitation, a keyboard, a keypad, or a touchscreen), a display 34 (e.g., without limitation, an LCD), a processorapparatus 36, and a power supply 38 (e.g., without limitation, arechargeable battery). A user is able to provide input into processorapparatus 36 using input apparatus 32, and processor apparatus 36provides output signals to display 34 to enable display 34 to displayinformation to the user. NFC communications device 16 further includesan NFC transceiver chip 40 (similar to NFC transceiver chip 28 describedherein) coupled to an NFC coupling element 42 (similar to NFC couplingelement 30 described herein). NFC transceiver chip 40 coupled to NFCcoupling element 42 is structured to enable NFC communications device 16to engage in near-field communications with electronic trip unit 8through coupling/interaction with NFC transceiver chip 28 and NFCcoupling element 30 as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

Processor apparatus 36 comprises a microprocessor (μP) 44 (or othersuitable processing device) and a memory 46 that interfaces withmicroprocessor 44. Memory 46 can be any one or more of a variety oftypes of internal and/or external storage media such as, withoutlimitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), FLASH, and the like thatprovide a storage register, i.e., a machine readable medium, for datastorage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of acomputer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. Memory 46has a number of routines stored therein that are executable bymicroprocessor 44. One or more of the routines implement (by way ofcomputer/processor executable instructions) a softwareapplication/system that is configured to, among other things, enable auser to set, monitor, display and/or change conditions, parameters,settings and/or events within circuit interrupter 4 using near-fieldcommunications as described herein.

In operation, NFC communications device 16 may be used to configurecircuit interrupter 4 by establishing functional trip settings forelectronic trip unit 8 in the following manner (a so-called “programmingprocedure”). First, using input apparatus 42, a user inputs the desiredsettings into NFC communications device 16. Those settings are stored inmemory 46. The user then brings NFC communications device 16 into closeproximity with electronic trip unit 8. In particular, NFC communicationsdevice 16 is brought close enough to allow for a near-field couplinginterface to be established between NFC communications device 16 andelectronic trip unit 8 (e.g., within 4 cm or less). The user theninitiates a programming procedure using input apparatus 42 (e.g., bypressing a predetermined button). In response, NFC communications device16 will cause information including the stored functional trip settingsto be transferred to electronic trip unit 8 over an NFC interfacebetween the two devices. In particular, NFC transceiver chip 40 willcause NFC coupling element 42 to radiate an RF near-field in a mannerwherein the information to be transferred (the functional trip settings)is embedded (e.g., via modulation) in the radiated near-field. Thatradiated near-field will induce a field in NFC coupling element 30 ofelectronic trip unit 8 (which is within the radiated near-field). Theinduced field is provided to NFC transceiver chip 28, which converts itback into digital information (e.g., functional trip settings) that maybe used by microprocessor 18. The transferred functional trip settingsare stored in the non-volatile memory portion of NFC transceiver chip 28and, in the exemplary embodiment, in EEPROM 24 at the appropriate timefor use by microprocessor 18 as described elsewhere herein (i.e., by thetrip unit program).

NFC communications device 16 may also be used to read the currentfunctional trip settings for electronic trip unit 8 in the followingmanner (a so-called “read procedure”). First, the user brings NFCcommunications device 16 into close proximity with electronic trip unit8. In particular, NFC communications device 16 is brought close enoughto allow for a near-field coupling interface to be established betweenNFC communications device 16 and electronic trip unit 8 (e.g., within 4cm or less). The user then initiates a read procedure using inputapparatus 42 (e.g., by pressing a predetermined button). In response,NFC communications device 16 will cause information including a readrequest to be transferred to electronic trip unit 8 over an NFCinterface between the two devices as described elsewhere herein. Inresponse, NFC transceiver chip 28 will obtain the current settings ofelectronic trip unit 8 (in the exemplary embodiment, those settings arestored in both the non-volatile memory portion of NFC transceiver chip28 and EEPROM 24) and transfer those settings to NFC communicationsdevice 16 over the NFC interface between the two devices as describedelsewhere herein. The received information may then be displayed to theuser using display 34.

In one exemplary embodiment, the programming and read procedures justdescribed may be performed when auxiliary power is being provided tocircuit interrupter 4. In such a case, the auxiliary power is availablefor providing power to each of the components of electronic trip unit 8.

In another exemplary embodiment, the programming and read proceduresjust described may also be performed when auxiliary power is not beingprovided to circuit interrupter 4. In such as case, NFC transceiver chip28 of electronic trip unit 8 is configured as a passive device. In sucha configuration, NFC transceiver chip 28 derives the power it needs foroperation from the field that is radiated by NFC coupling element 42 andinduced in NFC coupling element 30. As will be appreciated, thiscapability may be particularly advantageous in a situation wherein anumber of circuit interrupters 4 need to be commissioned in anenvironment, such as in a new building, where power is not available tothe environment (e.g., the new building has not yet been energized).Since each of the circuit interrupters 4 can be fully configured withtrip settings as just described without the need for auxiliary power,the environment can be fully commissioned (for example at the time ofinitial installation) and ready for operation when the power doesbecomes available.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system 2′according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Circuit interrupter system 2′ includes many of the samecomponents as circuit interrupter system 2, and like components arelabeled with like reference numerals. As seen in FIG. 4, circuitinterrupter system 2′ further includes NFC metering module 48 that isoperatively coupled to circuit interrupter 4. In the exemplaryembodiment, NFC metering module 48 is a device configured to measurephase current and voltage information of circuit interrupter 4 and/orcalculate power and energy information of circuit interrupter 4, and tocommunicate such information to a local network or the Internet. NFCmetering module 48 is thus similar in operation to the PM3 Meter andCommunications Module sold by the assignee of the present invention.However, in the exemplary embodiment, NFC metering module 48 receivesthe phase current and voltage information (and possibly otherinformation) from electronic trip unit 8 over an NFC interface betweenelectronic trip unit 8 and NFC metering module 48 (rather than through ahard-wired connection). In particular, as shown schematically in FIG. 5,NFC metering module 48 includes a processor apparatus 50 (including amicroprocessor (μP) 52 (or other suitable processing device) and amemory 54 that interfaces with microprocessor 52), a power supply 56(e.g., without limitation, a rechargeable battery), and an NFCtransceiver chip 58 (similar to NFC transceiver chip 28 describedherein) coupled to an NFC coupling element 60 (similar to NFC couplingelement 30 described herein). NFC transceiver chip 58 coupled to NFCcoupling element 60 is structured to enable NFC metering module 48 toengage in near-field communications with electronic trip unit 8 throughcoupling/interaction with NFC transceiver chip 28 and NFC couplingelement 30 as described in more detail elsewhere herein in order towirelessly receive the phase current and voltage information (andpossibly other information) from electronic trip unit 8. The phasecurrent and voltage information and/or power and energy informationcalculated by microprocessor 52 may then be communicated by NFC meteringmodule 48 using an appropriate communications gateway in a known manner.

In one particular embodiment, the phase current and voltage informationand/or power and energy information (and possibly other information) maybe communicated by NFC metering module 48 to NFC communications device16 over an NFC interface between the two devices as described elsewhereherein. The received information may then be displayed to the user usingdisplay 34.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system 62according to another alternative exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Circuit interrupter system 62 includes a configurable circuitinterrupter 4 as described elsewhere herein and a number ofconfiguration card devices 64. In the illustrated embodiment, threeconfiguration card devices 64 (labeled 64A, 64B and 64C) are shown. Itwill be understood, however, that three configuration card devices 64 ismeant to be exemplary only, and that circuit interrupter system 62 mayemploy more or less than three configuration card devices 64. As usedherein, the term “configuration card device” shall refer to apocket-sized card having a housing made of, for example, plastic, and anembedded integrated circuit. Each of the configuration card devices 64is preprogrammed with certain stored configuration information (e.g.,predetermined functional trip settings) for the circuit interrupter 4,and, as described in detail below, is structured to transmit its storedconfiguration information to electronic trip unit 8 over an NFCinterface between the configuration card device 64 and electronic tripunit 8 in order to configure electronic trip unit 8. As seen in FIG. 6,in the illustrated embodiment, each of the configuration card devices64A, 64B and 64C stores a different set of predetermined functional tripsettings. In addition, each configuration card device 64 may be labeledwith (e.g., printed thereon) the predetermined functional trip settingsassociated therewith and/or information identifying the circuitinterrupter 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components ofconfiguration card device 64 (labeled 64-1) according to one exemplaryembodiment. Configuration card device 64-1 of the present embodimentincludes an NFC transceiver chip 66 (similar to NFC transceiver chip 28described herein) coupled to an NFC coupling element 68 (similar to NFCcoupling element 30 described herein). The non-volatile memory portionof NFC transceiver chip 28 stores the configuration informationassociated with configuration card device 64-1. In addition, as seen inFIG. 7, configuration card device 64-1 of the present embodiment doesnot include an on-board power supply, and thus configuration card device64-1 is configured as a passive NFC device. Furthermore, as describedbelow, in this embodiment, electronic trip unit 8 functions as an activeNFC device and provide the power needed by configuration card device64-1 to configuration card device 64-1 over the NFC interface betweenthe two devices. As will be appreciated, this requires electronic tripunit 8, and thus circuit interrupter 4, to have auxiliary power.

In particular, in operation, when it is desired to configure electronictrip unit 8 using the configuration information associated withconfiguration card device 64-1, the user brings configuration carddevice 64-1 into close proximity with electronic trip unit 8.Configuration card device 64-1 is brought close enough to allow for anear-field coupling interface to be established between electronic tripunit 8 and configuration card device 64-1 (e.g., within 4 cm or less).When this is done, the RF near-field being radiated by NFC couplingelement 30 of electronic trip unit 8 will induce a field in NFC couplingelement 68 of configuration card device 64-1, which is used to providepower to NFC transceiver chip 66. In response, NFC transceiver chip 66will cause the stored configuration information to be transferred toelectronic trip unit 8 over the NFC interface between the two devices.In particular, NFC transceiver chip 66 will cause NFC coupling element68 to radiate an RF near-field in a manner wherein the information to betransferred (the configuration information, e.g., the functional tripsettings) is embedded (e.g., via modulation) in the radiated near-field.That radiated near-field will induce a field in NFC coupling element 30of electronic trip unit 8 (which is within the radiated near-field). Theinduced field is provided to NFC transceiver chip 28, which converts itback into digital information (i.e., functional trip settings) that maybe used by microprocessor 18. The transferred functional trip settingsare stored in the non-volatile memory portion of NFC transceiver chip 28and, in the exemplary embodiment, in EEPROM 24 for use by microprocessor18 as described elsewhere herein (i.e., by the trip unit program). Inthe exemplary embodiment, feedback (e.g., in the form of a blinking LEDor some other suitable form) is provided to the user when theconfiguration steps as just described have been successfully completed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing certain selected components ofconfiguration card device 64 (labeled 64-2) according to an alternativeexemplary embodiment. Configuration card device 64-2 of this embodimentincludes an NFC transceiver chip 66 coupled to an NFC coupling element68 as described above. The non-volatile memory portion of NFCtransceiver chip 28 stores the configuration information associated withconfiguration card device 64-2. In addition, as seen in FIG. 8,configuration card device 64-2 of the present embodiment includes anon-board power supply in the form of a battery 70 that is selectivelycoupled to NFC transceiver chip 66 by a manually operated switch 72.Thus, configuration card device 64-2 is configured to operate as anactive NFC device, with power being provided to NFC transceiver chip 66via actuation of switch 72. As a result, in this embodiment, it is notnecessary for electronic trip unit 8, and thus circuit interrupter 4, tohave auxiliary power in order for the configuration informationassociated with configuration card device 64-2 to be transferred toelectronic trip unit 8 over the NFC interface. Instead, power for NFCtransceiver chip 28 of electronic trip unit 8 will be transferredthereto (along with the stored configuration information) over the NFCinterface when configuration card device 64-2 is brought into proximitywith electronic trip unit 8 and switch 72 is actuated.

Thus, in circuit interrupter system 62, employing either configurationcard devices 64-1 or 64-2, a number of different configuration carddevices 64 (each programmed with different configuration information)may be provided to a user, such as a maintenance person, and the usermay select one of the configuration card devices 64 to configure circuitinterrupter 4 as needed. Alternatively, a service provider, such as theprovider of the circuit interrupter 4, may provide a user with anappropriately programmed configuration card device 64 as needed toconfigure circuit interrupter 4.

Moreover, the above exemplary embodiments have been described inconnection with an electrical distribution system that includes acircuit interrupter wherein configuration information is provided toand/or read from the circuit interrupter using near-fieldcommunications. It will be understood, however, that the concepts of thepresent invention are not limited to circuit interrupters, but rathermay be employed with other types of electrical distribution systems thatinclude other types electrical devices or components that requireconfiguration information to be provided to and/or read from theelectrical device or component. For example, such electrical devices orcomponents may include, without limitation, a metering device, amonitoring device, a control device, or any component forming part of aswitchgear, which as is known, is a combination of electrical disconnectswitches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolateelectrical equipment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a circuit interrupter system 74according to yet another alternative exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Circuit interrupter system 74 includes a configurable circuitinterrupter 4′ and a portable computing device 76.

Circuit interrupter 4′ is similar to circuit interrupter 4 and includesan operating mechanism 6 as described elsewhere herein. Circuitinterrupter 4′, however, includes a modified electronic trip unit 8′that is similar to electronic trip unit 8 in all respects except that itfurther includes a display device 78, which in the exemplary embodimentis an LCD. In one aspect, electronic trip unit 8′ is structured andconfigured (by way of one or more routines stored in RAM 22 andexecutable by microprocessor 18 of electronic trip unit 8′) to causedisplay device 78 to display data relating to the operation and/orstatus of circuit interrupter 4′ in the form of a two-dimensional (2D)barcode 80, such as, without limitation, a standard Datamatrix barcode(see FIG. 10), that is generated by electronic trip unit 8′. Asdescribed in more detail below, portable computing device 76 isstructured to capture an image of 2D barcode 80, decode the 2D barcode80 to obtain the data encoded therein, and display information based onthe decoded data in a user friendly format. Particular examples of suchinformation being encoded into 2D barcode 80 and subsequently displayedon portable computing device 76 are provided elsewhere herein followingthe description of the exemplary portable computing device 76.

An exemplary portable computing device 76 that may be used in circuitinterrupter system 74 is depicted generally in FIG. 9 and schematicallyin FIG. 11. The exemplary portable computing device 76 may be, forexample and without limitation, a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a laptopor notebook PC. As seen in FIGS. 9 and/or 11, portable computing device76 includes an input apparatus 82 (e.g., a keyboard, a keypad, a touchscreen, or some combination thereof), a display 84, a processorapparatus 86, and a digital camera 88 (including an image capture devicesuch as a CCD). A user is able to provide input into processor apparatus86 using input apparatus 82, and processor apparatus 86 provides outputsignals to display 84 to enable display 84 to display information to theuser as described in detail herein. Processor apparatus 86 comprises amicroprocessor (μP) 90 (or other suitable processing device) and amemory 92 that interfaces with microprocessor 90. Memory 92 can be anyone or more of a variety of types of internal and/or external storagemedia such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), FLASH,and the like that provide a storage register, i.e., a machine readablemedium, for data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storagearea of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory.Memory 92 has a number of routines 94 stored therein that are executableby microprocessor 90. One or more of the routines 94 implement (by wayof computer/processor executable instructions) a software applicationthat is configured to decode the 2D barcode 80 to obtain the dataencoded therein, and display information based on the decoded data ondisplay 84 (routines 94 thus comprise a computer program producttangibly embodied on a computer readable medium of the portablecomputing device 76).

As is known in the art, when a breaker, such as circuit interrupter 4′,trips, it can be for several reasons. Each reason has differentimplications for the servicing electrician. In addition, while abreaker, such as circuit interrupter 4′, is closed (pre-trip) andcarrying normal current, data about that power-flow is valuable fordiagnosing other problems. Thus, communicating reasons for a trip and/ordata about pre-trip power-flow can be very helpful to a servicingelectrician to enable him or her to quickly find and fix whateverproblem exists in the wiring or powered equipment. Accordingly, in oneexemplary embodiment, the data that is encoded into 2D barcode 80 fordisplay on display 78 may include one or more of the following: (1)cause-of-trip information, including one of: (a) Short Delay, meaningthere was a large overload for a short time (probably a piece ofequipment is failing), (b) Long Delay, meaning there was a smalloverload for a long time (probably too much equipment on that circuit),(c) Ground-Fault, meaning somewhere current is flowing to ground causinga dangerous situation, and (d) Instantaneous, meaning a catastrophicevent, usually a direct short in the wires, has occurred; (2) loadinformation including the actual values of the current flowing in thethree phases of the breaker, such as circuit interrupter 4′, for acertain amount to time (e.g., N seconds) prior to trip (for example ifthe breaker is feeding a three phase motor, the phases should all beroughly equal; if one phase is off, that might indicate that somethingis wrong with the motor such that it will probably fail (burn-out thewindings) or be unable to deliver the shaft power needed); (3) voltageinformation including the actual measurement of phase to phase voltagesfor a certain amount to time prior to trip (much like current, animbalance indicates problems in the connected devices, such as, withoutlimitation, an upstream transformer that is failing or a downstream loadthat is bad); and (4) harmonics information (all electrical devices emita certain amount of energy across the spectrum; excessive levels cancause interference in other devices; harmonics information can be usedas a diagnostic to fix those interference problems).

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate operation of circuit interrupter system 74according to an exemplary embodiment using one particular, non-limitingexample implementation wherein cause of trip information, pre-trippower-flow information and certain other information is transferred toand displayed on portable computing device 76. In particular, in thepresent example, electronic trip unit 8′ is be configured to, in theevent of trip in circuit interrupter 4′, create a number 2D barcodes 80by encoding into barcode form the following information: (i) the causeof the trip, (ii) the values of the current flowing in the three phasesof circuit interrupter 4′ prior to trip, (iii) configuration settingsinformation for circuit interrupter 4′ that are relevant to the trip,(iv) service related information that is relevant to the trip (describedin greater detail herein), and (v) voltage and/or current waveforminformation for a certain amount to time (e.g., N seconds) prior totrip. Depending on the capacity of the particular 2D barcodeimplementation that is used, that information may be encoded in a single2D barcode 80 or in multiple 2D barcodes 80. Electronic trip unit 8′then causes the 2D barcode or barcodes 80 to be displayed on display 78.In the event multiple 2D barcodes 80 are used, the 2D barcodes 80 aredisplayed in a repeating sequence.

Next, digital camera 88 of portable computing device 76 is used tocapture a digital image of each of the 2D barcodes 80, and the softwareof portable computing device 76 as described herein is then used todecode the information contained in each of the 2D barcodes 80. Oncedecoded, that information may be displayed to the user on display 84 ofportable computing device 76. In particular, in the present example,referring to FIG. 12, a screen 96 is provided on display 84. Screen 96includes the cause of the trip (Short Delay in the present example) andthe values of the current flowing in the three phases of circuitinterrupter 4′ just prior to trip (I_(A)=2,000 A, I_(B)=5,278 A andI_(C)=3,175 A in the present example). Screen 96 also includes buttons98 and 100 which may be clicked (selected) in order to cause additionalinformation to be displayed on display 84. Specifically, as seen in FIG.13, when button 98 is selected, a screen 102 is provided on display 84.Screen 102 includes the configuration settings for circuit interrupter4′ that are relevant to the Short Delay trip. Screen 102 also includesbuttons 104 and 106 which may be clicked (selected) in order to causeadditional information to be displayed on display 84. In particular, asseen in FIG. 13, button 104 includes a link (e.g., URL) to the usermanual or a troubleshooting guide for circuit interrupter 4′. Whenbutton 104 is selected, a pdf of the user manual troubleshooting guideis obtained (e.g., from a remote sever) and is displayed on a screen 108on display 84 as shown in FIG. 14. In addition, in the present example,button 106 includes a link to contact information for a serviceelectrician or the like for circuit interrupter 4′, which, whenselected, will cause that contact information to be displayed on display84. Referring again to FIG. 12, when button 100 is selected, a screen110 shown in FIG. 15 is provided on display 84. Screen 110 includesvoltage waveforms for circuit interrupter 4′ for a certain amount totime (e.g., N seconds) prior to trip.

FIGS. 16A-16B illustrate operation of circuit interrupter system 74according to an alternative exemplary embodiment wherein current and/orvoltage information for the three phases of circuit interrupter 4′ istransferred to and displayed on portable computing device 76 in nearreal time. In particular, in this embodiment, electronic trip unit 8′ isconfigured to repeatedly and periodically (e.g., without limitation,once every second) create a 2D barcode 80 that has encoded therein thethen current phase current values and/or phase voltage values forcircuit interrupter 4′. In the illustrated example, phase current valuesare employed. Each 2D barcode 80 is displayed on display 78 until it isreplaced with the next, updated 2D barcode 80, and so on. Thus, someonesuch as a service technician or electrician can use digital camera 88 ofportable computing device 76 to capture a digital image of each of the2D barcodes 80 as they are sequentially generated. The captured imagesmay then be sequentially decoded and used to create sequential screens112 shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B (and so on) which display the phasecurrents of circuit interrupter 4′ on a near real time basis. As such,portable computing device 76 is able to operate as a near real timemeter for circuit interrupter 4′. As will be appreciated, rather thansequentially encoding and displaying phase current values as in theillustrated example, other types of information, such as phase voltagevalues and phase current or voltage waveforms, may be sequentiallyencoded and displayed as just described.

According to a further particular exemplary embodiment, portablecomputing device 76 may be configured to transmit the images of the 2Dbarcodes 80 that it captures to another (e.g., remotely located)computer system for further analysis and/or storage/record keeping.

In still another particular exemplary embodiment, electronic trip unit8′ may be configured to display the 2D barcodes 80 one pixel at a timefor capture by digital camera 88 of portable computing device 76 andsubsequent decoding thereby. In such a configuration, the 2D barcodes 80would in essence be flashed in a sequential pattern that could becaptured as a movie by portable computing device 76.

While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been describedin detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and alternatives to those details could bedeveloped in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosedconcept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended andany and all equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A circuit interrupter system, comprising: acircuit interrupter, the circuit interrupter having a first processorapparatus and a first display, the first processor apparatus beingstructured to: (i) generate a machine readable element that comprisesfirst information in encoded form, the first information relating to theoperation and/or status of the circuit interrupter, and (ii) cause themachine readable element to be displayed on the first display; and aportable computing device having a second processor apparatus, a seconddisplay, and an image capture device, the second processor apparatusbeing structured to: (i) cause the image capture device to capture animage of the machine readable element, (ii) obtain the first informationbased on the image, and (iii) cause second information to be displayedon the second display based on the obtained first information.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the machine readable element is a2D barcode.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the machinereadable element is generated in response to a trip in the circuitinterrupter, and wherein the first information includes informationrelating to one or more of: (i) a cause of the trip, (ii) a currentflowing in the circuit interrupter prior to the trip, (iii)configuration settings information for the circuit interrupter that arerelevant to the trip, (iv) service related information that is relevantto the trip, and (v) voltage and/or current waveform information for acertain amount to time prior to the trip.
 4. The system according toclaim 3, wherein the second information includes information relating toone or more of: (i) the cause of the trip, (ii) the current flowing inthe circuit interrupter prior to the trip, (iii) configuration settingsinformation for the circuit interrupter that are relevant to the trip,(iv) service documentation for the circuit interrupter and/or contactinformation for a service electrician/technician for the circuitinterrupter, and (v) voltage and/or current waveform information for acertain amount to time prior to the trip.
 5. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the first information includes current informationand/or voltage information for the circuit interrupter.
 6. The systemaccording to claim 5, wherein the first information includes one or morecurrent values and/or one or more voltage values for the circuitinterrupter.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the firstprocessor apparatus is structured to, following generation of themachine readable element, sequentially and on a periodic basis generateand cause to be displayed on the first display a plurality of updatedmachine readable elements that each comprise updated first informationin encoded form, wherein in each case the updated first informationincludes one or more updated current values and/or one or more updatedvoltage values for the circuit interrupter.
 8. The system according toclaim 5, wherein the first information includes current waveforminformation and/or voltage waveform information for the circuitinterrupter.
 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the firstprocessor apparatus is structured to, following generation of themachine readable element, sequentially and on a periodic basis generateand cause to be displayed on the first display a plurality of updatedmachine readable elements that each comprise updated first informationin encoded form, wherein in each case the updated first informationincludes updated current waveform information and/or updated voltagewaveform information for the circuit interrupter.
 10. A method ofobtaining information from an electrical component of an electricaldistribution system, comprising: generating a machine readable elementthat comprises first information in encoded form, the first informationrelating to the operation and/or status of the electrical component;displaying the machine readable element on the electrical component;capturing an image of the machine readable element; obtaining the firstinformation based on the image; and displaying second information basedon the obtained first information.
 11. The method according to claim 10,wherein the machine readable element is a 2D barcode.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the electrical component is a circuitinterrupter.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein thegenerating is performed in response to a trip in the circuitinterrupter, and wherein the first information includes informationrelating to one or more of: (i) a cause of the trip, (ii) a currentflowing in the circuit interrupter prior to the trip, (iii)configuration settings information for the circuit interrupter that arerelevant to the trip, (iv) service related information that is relevantto the trip, and (v) voltage and/or current waveform information for acertain amount to time prior to the trip.
 14. The method according toclaim 13, wherein the second information includes information relatingto one or more of: (i) the cause of the trip, (ii) the current flowingin the circuit interrupter prior to the trip, (iii) configurationsettings information for the circuit interrupter that are relevant tothe trip, (iv) service documentation for the circuit interrupter and/orcontact information for a service electrician/technician for the circuitinterrupter, and (v) voltage and/or current waveform information for acertain amount to time prior to the trip.
 15. The method according toclaim 12, wherein the first information includes current informationand/or voltage information for the circuit interrupter.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein the first information includes one ormore current values and/or one or more voltage values for the circuitinterrupter.
 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising,following the generating of the machine readable element, sequentiallyand on a periodic basis generating and displaying on the circuitinterrupter a plurality of updated machine readable elements that eachcomprise updated first information in encoded form, wherein in each casethe updated first information includes one or more updated currentvalues and/or one or more updated voltage values for the circuitinterrupter.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the firstinformation includes current waveform information and/or voltagewaveform information for the circuit interrupter.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 18, further comprising, following the generating ofthe machine readable element, sequentially and on a periodic basisgenerating and displaying on the circuit interrupter a plurality ofupdated machine readable elements that each comprise updated firstinformation in encoded form, wherein in each case the updated firstinformation includes updated current waveform information and/or updatedvoltage waveform information for the circuit interrupter.